Are you still waiting for Verizon to make the newest Android OS available on your Droid RAZR MAXX? In the mean time, follow the instructions below for a way to preview what the newest Android OS looks like – you’re probably not missing as much as you think!

Download and install VMware Player. This is VMware’s entry-level free virtualization product for end users.

Instead of downloading a file from the Android x86 project, I grabbed a customized one with better support for VMWare drivers from Dan Fages. Download the android-x86-vm-20120130.iso.gz file and extract it somewhere on your computer.

Create a New Virtual Machine. Set the “Installer disc image file” to the Android x86 ISO file you just downloaded:

Configure a name and location to save the disk image. You can set this to 2.5GB:

The Android OS partitions take about 256MB of disk space.

The maximum size for a simulated SD card is 2GB.

Once you’ve completed the startup wizard, it should immediately boot to a GRUB menu. Select the “Installation” link to start this process.

Create/Modify partitions:

Use the arrows keys to select [New]

Then, choose [Primary] to create the first disk partition.

Accept the default (maximum) and hit Enter.

Choose [Bootable] to add the “Boot” flag to the partition.

Select [Write] and confirm your choice to complete partition setup.

Quit the Partition Editor.

Back in the “Choose Partition” window, there should be an option to install Android to “sda1 Linux”. Select this and choose OK.

Select ext3 in the “Choose filesystem” window. Confirm when it asks you if you’d like to format the drive, then confirm again when it asks you to install the GRUB boot loader.

You probably want to leave the /system drive as read-only. Accept the default and select No when it asks you if you’d like to set this drive as read-write.

You’ll have an opportunity, optionally, to Create a fake SD card. Do this, then Reboot the Virtual Machine.

In a few moments, you’ll see a prompt asking which Android (“regular” or Debug mode) to boot. Choose the default first-choice, or wait a few moments for it to auto-select the default.

Lastly, remember to click the I Finished Installing button. When it asks you about “Installing VMWare Tools”, choose Never Reminder Me.

The standard Google Market (Google Play) store isn’t available in this build by default, but you may be able to find applications you’re looking for in the “App Store”. Test out some of the Android Ice Cream Sandwich features here while you wait for your phone to be updated!

There is plenty more that can be done using the “adb” interface if you’re interested in developing or testing other features – but this will get you started if you’re looking for an introduction. Sorry, no iPhone OS emulator just yet!

32 Comments

prithviraj

sir i tried the above method and i was done with it but at the end i get an android boot logo for a long time im using the android x86 4.0 rc1.iso can u please guide me .
my cell:9738424016
i would be glad to recive ur call.

Spencer Thomason

Ed Chung

I built the vmdk and vmx files for Android-x86 4.0 RC2 (Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4) in VMWare Workstation 8.0.2. Try getting them from my Dropbox at this link for Android404_for_VMWorkstation802.zip (200MB ee6689b88e77bca249e9eddf08fda394).

Ronald Andersson

@Ed Chung:
I’ve downloaded the vmx and vmdk files from the ZIP you linked to, and have used them in VMware Workstation 8.04 on my Win7_x64 system, and much of it works fine. I was able to connect to Google’s ‘Play Store’ and install some games previously purchased using my Android phone. (A simple Samsung Galaxy Y). So that part of the usage works just fine, dealing with the installation and launching of apps.

But they don’t work the same way as they did on my phone, neither my games (FF1 and FF3) nor some of the other apps, which may be due to differences caused by emulation or by mismatch between the virtual machine and my physical PC system.

That’s where you come in of course, as you are the one who best knows how that virtual machine was created and configured.

Final Fantasy 1 does launch and its GUI seems to work, but the sprites I’ve seen so far are only fractionally displayed (a very tiny portion of each is visible).

Final Fantasy 3 begins to launch, but almost immediately there is a message stating that it has stopped.

The same ‘stopped’ message is also displayed for many other apps I’ve tried running, but not for all of them. Some work fine, such as the ‘News & Weather’ app, for example, while others like the two “Music” apps simply fail immediately on launch, giving the same message mentioned above, of the form:
“Unfortunately” app_name “has stopped”

Another factor common to ALL apps as well as the basic android functions is that I never hear any sound at all, even from apps or basic commands that I expected to make some sound effects.

I realize that no emulation is perfect, but I have a feeling that there is also some configuration problem involved here, though I’m unsure of whether it is the android settings or the VMware virtual machine settings (or both) that need tweaking.

Please clarify whether or not all the included apps really work for you, and whether or not some of these apps are able to produce audible sounds, when running in this VMware machine on your PC.

Best regards: Ronald Andersson

gurdonark

Ed, thanks for this post. I had had trouble getting Android to load in VmWare Player, but now I have it installed.
I do still have an issue, though. I wanted to sign into google, which sent me to a settings screen for wi-fi.
I turned the wi-fi on, but now it just hangs on “Turning Wi-fi On” though my computer is connected to the internet with good strength. The VM is not recognizing the wi-fi connection. Have you encountered this issue? best, Robert

http://unitedkpop.com

Hi! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew
where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!

[...] of Touch –this works too – and even an app or two will run as well !!. Here's a starting link How-to: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) using VMware Player | SPK and Associates There's loads of images available all over the web but this should start you off. Cheers jimbo [...]